Under the Cover of Darkness (1)

Writers: Cali, AL
Date Posted: 18th October 2008

Characters: Sorsha, Ri'len
Description: Sorsha and Railen go out after dark and things are said that can't be taken back.
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 12, day 11 of Turn 4

Railen was waiting for her outside the southern door, a single runner saddled and ready. A bag hung from the saddle, obviously containing something. Railen smiled when Sorsha appeared and he approached, reaching out to clasp her hand with his own. "Ready?"

"I thought Lenlee would never go to sleep." Sorsha replied as she went with him. She was a bit annoyed that he wasn't confident enough of her riding to merit her own runner, but then remembered her fall and didn't mention it.

"Sometimes she takes a while." Railen stepped to the side then helped Sorsha onto the runner. Once she was settled, he mounted and settled in behind her. His long arms encircled her as he took the reigns and urged the runner forward.

It was a nice evening, not too cold that she would wish for more than her long sleeves, and the two moons kept things light enough that she could easily see the trail that they were following away from the hold. "Any hints or are you going to keep me in suspense?"

"Suspense." Railen shifted a bit. Whenever they had ridden together before, they had each had their own runner. Getting one runner out without being noticed was quite a bit easier than two, so he had chosen to do that. Still, the sensation of having her in front of him, arms embracing her as he clutched at his runner's guides was both unsettling...and enjoyable. "You'll just have to wait and see."

"Okay" she pouted but didn't press further. The runner turned off the trail and the terrain became a bit more uneven so she had to hold on to the saddle horn to keep her balance. She almost asked to switch places with him so she could hold on to his waist, but she didn't want to whine and spoil anything that was coming up.

Railen had no trouble keeping his balance. When he felt Sorsha sway a bit in front of him, he slipped the hand that had been resting upon his thigh around her waist. "Don't worry." He whispered, "I won't let you fall."

Her body froze for an instant as the intimate gesture startled her. She made herself relax though, he was just trying to be helpful and she didn't want to offend him. It was an odd feeling though, no one had ever held her before, not even I'lan when they had kissed, and she could feel her stomach tightening and her cheeks flushing in spite of herself. Her mind briefly flashed to Railen kissing her neck and cheek from where they were sitting on the runner and Sorsha had to concentrate on the passing grasses to clear her mind. "I'm okay, I'm just not used to riding like this is all."

"Ah, sorry. It was easier to sneak just one runner out as opposed to two." Although, to be honest, Railen was kind of liking the arrangement.

They continued on, with Railen occasionally telling her a bit about a spot. That was where his father had broken his leg once. That was where they had seen a wherry. He told her little things, bits and pieces of his life growing up at the hold and what memories various places they passed brought him.

Eventually, they slipped away from the plains and moved closer to the river that cut through the land. Trees began to sprout up, some that looked as if they could touch the sky had they grown just a little bit more. He followed the river, the sound of the water laughing merrily at them both. In the dimness, a hulk of a shadow appeared and they approached. Eventually it loomed before them, more wide than tall, reaching out over the river as well as the bank. It was a tree, a huge, looming tree that bent and swayed, the thick branches caressing the ground like an amorous lover. The trunk was completely hidden, only the bending, stretching branches could be seen, making it look like it was bowing to the couple that approached it. There, Railen stopped, dismounted, then reached up to help Sorsha.

"What is that?" she asked, fascinated. It didn't look like a tree, more like a curtain, but it _had_ to be a tree, only she'd never seen anything like it.

"It's this really old, old tree." Railen let go of Sorsha once she was on the ground and turned to the satchel that swung from the saddle. "It's got all these scars from Thread, but it's managed to survive and even grow. It's my...special spot."

"It's beautiful." she assured him as she took a few steps closer to it. She was glad Timor and Belior were both up, she didn't know if she'd be able to see well enough if one had set already.

Once it was released from its confines, Railen swung the satchel over his shoulder, then took Sorsha's hand and gently tugged her toward the tree. "Come on, it's even nicer inside."

"And darker," she reminded him with a tease, but she followed anyways, if just to humor him.

Railen laughed softly but pulled her through the swaying branches. Amazingly, they weren't nearly as thick as they seemed. Moonlight sifted through them, providing more light than one would have thought at first sight. Half of the canopy of the tree was spread over the bank, the other half reached over the river where the edges of the tendrils lazily grazed the surface of the water. From the satchel, Rail pulled out a blanket and spread it over the ground then a glow to shed a bit of light around them. He then pulled out two mugs and a flask. He uncorked the flask, poured some dark liquid into each mug, then offered one of them to Sorsha. "Berry cordial. My mother made this batch just a couple of days ago."

"What's the special occasion?" she asked nervously as she took the offered drink and sipped it. None of this was anything she was expecting, and it was starting to have a very romantic air about it.

Last updated on the October 20th 2008

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Under the Cover of Darkness (1)